Some say Golf is a nice walk, Ruined.
Others say that Golf games are a nice sit down, Ruined.
Well, Sensible Software gave 2 fingers to that notion and created an arcade style golf
game called....
SENSIBLE GOLF.
Sensible Golf first appeared in demo form on an Amiga Format cover disk in November
1994.
However, at this stage, the game was incredibly buggy and limited.
It would take until August 1995 for a completed Amiga release to appear, with the PC version
naturally following.
This is the version I'll be looking at.
Available through Virgin Interactive on floppy and CD-ROM.
I have the CD-ROM version here.
You can see from the box art alone that this game follows Sensible Software's previous
style of game and in fact utilises the same game engine as Sensible Soccer and Cannon
Fodder.
You can't beat economies of scale.
This design aspect was for many, it's downfall, receiving some mixed reviews.
However for me - and many others - it's part of the charm, and what made this actually,
one of my favourite golfing games.
You see, most golf games position you behind the Golfer, then you swing, wait for the ball
to land, pick your club, look at the golfer, swing, look at the golfer.
It's tedious.
Whereas Sensible Golf just keeps the pace going.
You can simply pick it up and go and it's even fun to play by yourself, with or without
computer opponents any competition.
From the menu we have various options at our disposal, although the in game ambiance found
in the Amiga release is missing here... essentially bird sounds.
You can however tweak other sounds and set your level of difficulty.
We then have the choice of Round, allowing a quick casual golfing session.
Tournament providing a knock out type affair and Season allowing you to plough through
each of the 25 courses with up to 72 entrants.
Trust me if you don't skip watching the computer players, this can take quite a long time to
get through.
But it's great for parties, I imagine.
We also get the choice of Matchplay, Strokeplay or Skins with offer different scoring modes
which I can't for the life of me be bothered to explain.
In a sim like move, you can even customise your character...
although choice is somewhat, limited.
So, down to the golfing.
As the manual states, rather than a pixel perfect golf simulation, we bring you the
joy of real golf.. and yes, the joy is boundless.
I also feel myself becoming increasingly snarky as I dictate this review.
Play is simple.
You're offered a guiding direction, a suggested club and a corresponding red zone in the welly-o-meter
which requires precise space bar bashing to hit.
If you're to the left or right, your ball will curve and if you miss it, you'll miss
your shot.
Of course changing your club and direction can make the difference between Birdie and
TRIPLE BOGEY... as can your ability to read the course and play the actual game.
Water hazards can be a problem, but I do love how the ball just ricochets off the trees.
It's not rocket science, and for me it offers the precise amount of skill vs. enjoyment.
Once you get to the green, then small arrows depict the lay of the ground, for which you
must accommodate.
Jon Hare of Sensible Software has said since that "Sensible Golf is a disappointment to
me; I'm not happy with it..." and states they didn't put the time or resources into it,
and yeah, it might not have the polish or addictive play of Canon Fodder and Sensible
Soccer, but I really like this game.
It's just a nice casual game you can fire up in fleeting moments of boredom, or when
you've got a few mates round and don't fancy the intensity of a different game.
Perfect for hangovers really.
I loved playing it on both the Amiga and PC in the mid 90s, and it's just as playable
today.
Oh, also, you can play it in Windows as well.
Look, here it is running in Windows 3.11.
A nice feature, although it can be a bit stuttery if you're running other programs.
Not ideal when you're trying to hit the red zone in the Welly-o-meter.